Last night me and my friend Rachel headed to Birmingham Repertory Theatre to watch The Life I Lead, A new comedy by James Kettle.
It was held in the Studio theatre which is well known for having quite intimate, touching and thought provoking shows.
Miles Jupp was the performer in the show. Stand alone, with no one else accompanying him as he portrayed the life of David Tomlinson (the actor who played Mr Banks in Mary Poppins, the Professor Browne in Bedknobs and Broomsticks and the baddie in The Love Bug along with many more roles).
Miles Jupp, well known for being a comedian (Miles Jupp Is The Chap You’re Thinking Of – his sell out tour, Mock The Week, Have I Got News For You and Never Mind The Buzzcocks), a writer (BBC Radio 4 Sitcom In and Out of the Kitchen which was also turned into a TV show) and Actor (TV shows, films and on the stage) is used to performing to many people and you can see during his performance of The Life I Lead, that he is a natural on the stage; relaxed, calm and has the ability to keep the audience in the palm of his hand, hanging off his every word.
It was great to see into David’s life, fascinating even. There was so much that I learnt.
From David’s relationship with his father and his fathers two separate households for which David only discovered when he was much older, to his relationships with his first and second wife and his children. One son in particular, Willy who was one of the first children in the UK to be diagnosed with autism. We get to hear about Walt Disney, Julie Andrews and many other people that David met within his life.
Miles managed not only to make me laugh during the show with lots of comical and funny moments, but he was also able to bring tears to my eyes at his portrayal of some of the darker and more difficult moments within David Tomlinsons life.
I don’t think there would be a single adult who would not enjoy this show.
It gets a full five stars from us.
A special mention to James Kettle who wrote the play – an incredibly talented individual and also for both the Creative Team and Production Team for putting James Kettles amazing writing into what has been my favourite play of 2019 so far.
The set, stage, lighting and music was all just perfect.
Tickets start from £15 each and can be booked here: https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/the-life-i-lead.html
It is on tonight (12th March) and tomorrow (13th March), starting at 7:45pm and is a total of 1hr 45 minutes including a 20 minute interval.
Disclaimer: We were invited along by The Rep. All thoughts and opinions are honest and are our own. Photographs provided by The Rep.